Today is a special day. A long awaited day. A new morning which promises to take us into a whole new realm. Today Sankalp India Foundation graduates from the city of Bangalore and goes on to become the State Helpline for Blood for Karnataka.
Airtel has tied up with Sankalp India Foundation to launch a state wide toll free helpline for blood accessible through Airtel Mobiles at the number 51414. With this we are reaching out to 10 million people of Karnataka as the instant helpline for blood. This helpline is being announced by Airtel today (at an internal meeting). In the next four months, district by district we will enable and publicise the helpline across the state. By World Blood Donor Day anyone is Karnataka will have our promise.
It is a dream unfolding right before our eyes. From a group of few men and women in the streets around M S R I T we have grown slowly but steadily to where we stand. Over last 2 years our volunteers working for the 3 teams that fight blood shortage have done the necessary work that gives us the confidence today to stand up to the opportunity of running a state-wide helpline for blood.
It is indeed a giant leap for the organization. It looks like as if it should be a time for celebration. Sometimes it feels like calling you over and having a party. But that is not the case. This is no time to celebrate. An objective is attained but the goal still is far. We have learnt our lessons the tough way. This time before we aggressively publicise the helpline we are determined to identify and address all the issues that may come up. The process will be gradual but conclusive. As of date we have associations with all major blood banks in: - Bangalore - Mangalore - Mysore - Udupi.
As we proceed to make this helpline the one point of contact for safe blood, this day (today), stands out in our life as the delivery of a promise - the promise that all hard work and good intentions bear fruit. With blood sweat and tears pouring in abundantly we have seen for ourselves over the last few years, the toughest problems getting solved. Our belief in the fact that it is common men - the most unknown ones - the most insignificant ones - who hold the key to bring in a change and make our nation what we want it to be it in our dreams.
We, the Sankalp Volunteers are blessed with the best of the things in the world. Parents, friends, education and not to forget - your support. In numerous ways you do things that help us deliver our promises and live up-to your expectations. You are always there to stand by us and watch over us - there to cheer us even when we train at the end of the race - there with us even when we fight the toughest of life's games. We thank you all for being there for us. We look forward to your continued - and not just continued but ever increasing support for all that we do.
Vande Mataram, Warm regards, Rajat
P.S. On 29th December two Sankalp Volunteers were on a personal trip to Tamil Nadu. Going through the green fields the grand old mountains and the wind mills that were scattered all over the landscape, they were talking about the relationship they share with their soil. While taking about the expansion possibilities they wished for the day when Kanyakumari to Kashmir - no will have to suffer for blood. They wished for the day and smiled. A month later - Gods seem to have thrown the ball in their court. He seems to be saying -'I have given you all that it takes to realise your dreams. Now let's see what you do with them".